Wrist pain

The wrist is the joint that connects the radius of the forearm to the hand. The different small bones between the radius and the hand form a complex whole of small joints. Pain in the wrist often results in a movement restriction and can arise both acutely and gradually.

Anatomy of the wrist

The wrist joint consists of two imaginary rows of four bones. These are called the carpal bones or, in Latin, the ossa carpalia. The front (proximal) row of carpal bones is connected to the radius. This connection is called the radiocarpal joint. The carpal bones of the proximal row are the os scaphoideum, os lunatum, os triquetrum and the os pisiforme. The back (distal) row of carpal bones is connected to five metacarpal bones, the ossa metacarpalia. The interconnection between the front and back row of carpal bones is called the midcarpal joint.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex
The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) connects the ulna to the radius and a carpal bone called the os triquetrum. It is a kind of cartilaginous disc that, together with different ligaments, is located on the little-finger side of the wrist. The disc is also called the meniscus of the wrist, referring to the meniscus of the knee.

Carpal tunnel
On the palmar side of the wrist runs a narrow tunnel through which the flexor tendons of the thumb and fingers, some blood vessels and a nerve, the median nerve, pass. This tunnel is called the carpal tunnel. On one side this tunnel is surrounded by the carpal bones and on the other - palmar - side by a tendinous sheet, the retinaculum flexorum.

Stability
The passive stability of the wrist is largely formed by a complex structure of different ligaments. The active stability is provided by the muscles that coordinate the movements in the hand and wrist.

Tendon sheaths
To allow the tendons to glide well along and over each other, the tendons run through tendon sheaths in different places. These are fluid-filled tubes that protect the tendon from friction and pressure forces.

Check your wrist symptoms

Do you want to get a good picture of what might be causing the pain in your wrist? Then do the online physiotherapy check. Indicate where you have pain and then answer a number of questions about your symptoms. At the end of the physiotherapy check your symptoms are compared with the most common conditions in physiotherapy. If you wish, you can contact an affiliated physiotherapy practice for professional help.

Wrist conditions

Below you will find an overview of conditions that can cause pain in the wrist. Each article provides extensive information about the symptoms, the cause and any treatment. When you do the online physiotherapy check, your symptoms are compared with all these conditions.